5

— Z A H I R —

°°°

“Hm right bro, Uncle is really serious about you this time.” Even though his words were reassuring, I could not ignore the amusement in his voice. He was enjoying it all. 

“Shut up! I know you too are enjoying it!” I gritted out, taking a turn according to the location. 

He chuckled. “Okay, I’m sorry, but I’m happy at last they got a girl for you.” 

“Huh!” I scoffed. 

“C’mon, you’re thinking too much. I know you’ll handle it.” 

“What?” 

“This marriage?” 

“Are you crazy? I don’t even know that girl!” 

“You’ll get to know, don’t worry.” 

“Shut up, Darsh.” 

“Was I wrong?”

“Of course!” I sighed. “Is there any use in begging in front of you all? Now you just pray that I don't commit suicide by hanging myself from the fan of my room on my wedding day itself.” These all are turning into soul-crushing monsters. 

He chuckled once again. “The ceiling fan will break; try something else.” What a friend! “But I don't think the girl will let this happen.” 

“How are you sure?” I was confused. As I reached, I got down from the car and walked inside the shop.

“The girl whom Uncle will choose will be good for you. A father chooses the best for his son.” 

“He’s so desperate for my marriage that he will get me married to any girl walking on the road.” He giggled upon hearing me. Such a bastard!

“Welcome sir, how can I help you?” I heard a soft voice as soon as I entered the cool area and the aroma of freshly baked bread and vanilla reached my nostrils. But what triggered me was the voice. Nice yet familiar. 

Looking up, I parted my lips to give her the order when my eyes widened as I looked at her familiar face, too. 

“You!” 

We both uttered in unison. And then I got it, she works here. Oh yeah, I noticed that yellow t-shirt she was wearing that day. 

“So you work here,” I muttered, looking around. Menus, painting, photographs, and other many things I noticed around when I received an arrogant hum from her. I rolled my eyes. Her face is literally irritating. Beautiful yet irritating. I wonder why the creator wasted such a charming appearance on such an arrogant self. 

“I didn’t ask you to roll your eyes here and there. Just tell me what you want.” 

That fucking disrespectful mouth of hers! I stared at her in disbelief. Did she just insult me once again? 

“That day you were teaching me great manners and now? That’s how you serve your customers?” I could not stop myself from picking up her flaws. So what does she think huh? That she can just insult Zahir Mathews and make her way out without getting the answer-back? 

I saw her closing her eyes and her jaw clenched. Opening those eyes, she forced her lips to stretch into a smile and asked, “What do you want, the great illiterate king?” 

My jaw clenched when I heard her. This girl is getting on my nerves. 

“I’m not illiterate!” 

“Oh, I forgot you’re arrogant too!” She raised her gaze to meet mine. Looking straight, she was challenging me. Okay, I, too, am ready for this fucking eye contest! 

“I'm not arrogant. You’re mannerless! You don’t know how to talk!” I mocked and I was glad my words were working because she just frowned bitterly when she heard me. Oh good, Zahir! They should torture her nicely. 

“At least I understand where the garbage is thrown. I ain't as dumb as you, to litter anywhere!” She moved out of the counter, standing right in front of me. 

“Why do you bring garbage again and again? Do you love garbage so much?” I could not help but notice it. Perhaps there is a sacred and deep relationship between garbage and her which is why garbage is everywhere in her talk. 

“Why are you always ready to fight with me?” She held her hips as I noticed it, looking down. It is then I realized, I too was holding my hips in annoyance. 

“I don’t want to fight with you but seeing your cat-like appearance makes me angry!” I did not even realize I took a step closer. 

“Cat?” She gasped. “You called me a cat?!” She glared at me. I nodded, earning another shocked reaction from her. “Oh really, Mr? If I’m a cat then… then you’re a monkey! A feral monkey like kiki kuku!” Her face scrunched up as she gritted out, stepping closer as our faces were just an inch apart. 

I wonder how she reached my height when she is shorter than me. Anyway, ignore it for now. 

“Feral monkey? Ever looked at yourself? You look wild, not me!” 

“Even with such a great appearance, Mr you aren’t less than any jungli, understand?” 

“You’re talking too much, I’m warning you!” I pointed out. 

She held my finger which poked the tip of her nose, muttering, “Oh really? You haven’t even seen my limits yet!” She gritted out and before I could say further, someone interrupted us, yelling, “Hoor!” 

Turning our faces in the voice's direction, our fingers crossed and one hand holding hip, we glared at the person who dared to interrupt us, just to find him the manager of the shop. 

“Who talks to the customer like this? Our customers are our gods, don’t you know?” He walked towards us and I kept watching him. 

“And this!” He held her hand which automatically freed my index finger. 

“We’re really sorry, sir.” He bowed down slightly. 

Not his fault. I opened my mouth to interrupt, “No, it’s—,” when Catty interrupted me.

“What? Apologise? But sir, he started quarreling with me first. I was—,” 

“Enough!” He glared at her, making her shut her mouth. 

I looked at her and found her glaring at me. Her jaw is set. Mhm, impressive. 

“Apologies to him,” he ordered her. She gave him a look of disbelief. I watched her reaction as her lips parted to protest but another glare from the man stopped her. She then turned towards me and gritted out, “I’m sorry.” 

I averted my eyes, feeling something terrible in my chest because of her death glare. She is glaring as if she will chew me raw. 

Even when her mouth is apologizing, her gaze is ready to kill me anytime. Through those inky eyelashes, she knows how to terrify me. 

“It’s okay.” I looked at the man who passed me with a forced smile. 

“Now take sir’s order.” She nodded before looking at me. I had the orders in my pocket. I brought my mobile out of my pocket, suddenly realizing I never disconnected the line with Damien but the screen showed nothing. Meant, he already cut the line. 

Well, better for me. I did not want him to hear our quarrel. He would have laughed on the other side. 

“This is all.” I played the recording that she heard. Nodding her head, she went inside and I sighed. 

“I’m sorry again, sir, but that girl is a bit of a fighter. Sometimes she talks too much. Forgive her. She’s naive.”

Naive? I have seen how naive she is! 

“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologize again and again.” I shook my head and soon she arrived. Without saying anything, she just stretched out her hand toward me which was holding the bag. 

The manager giggled awkwardly and immediately took the bag from her. 

“Show some respect, Hoor,” he muttered near her ear and her jaw clenched once again. To my surprise, she turned her face to his side, giving him her famous and horrible death glare which made him gulp down his lump. 

So she scared her manager, too?  

“For you, sir, thanks for coming.” He smiled awkwardly. I nodded, taking the bag. What was with the bag? 

“How much?” 

“How much, Hoor?” He asked her softly. Is she his boss? But a moment ago, I saw ‘him’ bossing around. Whatever, leave it. Does not matter if any of them is the boss. 

“3050 rupees,” she muttered. 

“Oh.” I pull out my mobile. She steps ahead to bring the cod as I scan it for the payment. “Done,” I say, pushing my mobile back into my pocket. 

“Thanks for coming, sir. Will come again!” He chirped. I nodded before leaving. But leaving not before glancing at her. When I got inside my car and looked at the shop after settling myself comfortably, I noticed her through the glass door of the shop. Still, she was glaring at me and her jaw was clenched. 

I gulped upon seeing her. Even though she is scary with such death glares, a corner of my heart can't stop telling me that she looked kind of… cute, no?